Laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer

Laparoscopic versus open abdominal lymph node dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis

PURPOSE

To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open abdominal lymph node dissection using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

METHODS

The subjects of this retrospective analysis were 459 patients who underwent curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) between May, 2005 and December, 2019, at our hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: the Laparoscopic (Lap group) and the Open (Open group). Post-PSM, 139 patients from each group were selected for the analysis to compare the short- and long-term outcomes between the groups.

RESULTS

The Lap group experienced fewer Clavien-Dindo (CD) Grade ≥ 2 complications (28.1% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.04) and lower rates of abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) (2.9% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.02) than the Open group. The number of lymph nodes harvested was similar in the Lap and Open groups (14.8 ± 7.5 vs. 15.7 ± 8.6, P = 0.34). There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival rates (81.2% vs. 69.5%, P = 0.12) or relapse-free survival rates (61.1% vs. 58.2%, P = 0.54) between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic abdominal lymph node dissection for ESCC can be performed safely and appears to be beneficial.

Short-term outcomes and prognosis of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy in elderly patients with stomach cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes and prognosis of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LTG) in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

The clinical data of 275 patients aged over 65 years undergoing open total gastrectomy (OTG, n = 184) or laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LTG, n = 91) were reviewed from January 2015 to August 2017 at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China. Short-term outcomes were compared between the two groups, and risk factors for postoperative complications were explored. In addition, the 2-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were investigated for both groups.

RESULTS

Except for the ASA score (P = 0.01), there was no significant difference regarding patient baselines between the two groups. Patients in the LTG group had a longer operative time (P < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.004), a shorter time of resumption to a semi-liquid diet (P < 0.001) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.001). The incidence of pulmonary complications was significantly lower in the LTG group than in the OTG group (4.4% vs. 13%, P = 0.026). The number of lymph nodes harvested in the LTG group was higher than that in the OTG group (20.7 ± 7.4 vs. 17.5 ± 6.9, P = 0.001), and the proportion of patients with TNM stage III gastric cancer was higher in the LTG group than in the OTG group (P = 0.035). There was no significant difference in the 2-year OS rate or 2-year DFS rate between the two groups (P = 0.057 and P = 0.344). Sex, age, preoperative comorbidity, intraoperative blood loss, and TNM stage were identified as independent prognostic factors for postoperative survival.

CONCLUSION

Comparing with OTG, LTG is feasible and contributes to less surgical trauma and a faster recovery after total gastrectomy. In addition, LTG contributes to a lower risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Regarding oncological results, LTG is more effective for lymph node dissection and has a comparable long-term prognosis as OTG.

Is ERAS effective and safe in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma? A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is still unclear whether enhanced recovery after surgery is effective and safe in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma.

METHODS

Cochrane library databases, Medline, Embase, and Pubmed were searched from January 1, 1986, to December 31, 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fast-track recovery with conventional recovery strategies in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma were included. The main outcomes measured were postoperative hospital stay, time to first flatus, hospital charge, and overall complication rate.

RESULTS

Six RCTs with 400 patients were included in this study. Fast-track surgery has shorter postoperative hospital stays (weighted mean difference (WMD) - 2.65; 95% CI, - 4.01 to - 1.29, z = 3.82, P < 0.01) and less hospitalization expenditure (WMD - 523.43; 95% CI, - 799.79 to - 247.06, z = 3.71, P < 0.01) than conventional recovery strategies. There was no significant difference with respect to duration to first flatus (WMD - 17.72; 95% CI, - 39.46-4.02, z = 1.60, P = 0.11) and complication rate (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 0.82-2.98, z = 1.37, P = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced recovery after surgery is effective and safe and is thus recommended in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma.

Defining a Subgroup Treatable for Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Cooperative Surgery in Undifferentiated Early Gastric Cancer: the Role of Lymph Node Metastasis

BACKGROUND

Recently, the use of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) and the development of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) have enabled either the preservation of the stomach or the minimization of the extent of partial resection. ESD has recently been practiced on a differentiated type of EGC. However, there is no clear evidence for endoscopic treatments of undifferentiated EGC. The purposes of this study are to investigate predictive factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in undifferentiated EGC and expand the possibility of using LECS for the treatment of undifferentiated EGC.

METHODS

Data from 116 patients with undifferentiated EGC and surgically treated were collected, and the association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

The tumor size (OR = 11.748, 95 % CI 2.034-62.213, P = 0.008), depth of invasion (OR = 13.928, 95 % CI 1.971-92.434, P = 0.016), and lymphatic vessel involvement (OR = 11.522, 95 % CI 2.645-59.172, P = 0.021) that were significantly associated with LNM by univariate analysis were found to be significant and independent risk factors for LNM by multivariate analysis. The LNM rate was 5.9 % (4/68) and 29.2 % (14/48) with intramucosal and submucosal undifferentiated EGC, respectively. LNM was observed in 66.7 % (2/3) of patients with both risk factors (tumor larger than or equal to 2.0 cm and the presence of lymphatic vessel involvement (LVI)), but in none of 36 patients without the two risk factors in intramucosal undifferentiated EGC. The 5-year survival rates were 88.9, 72.4, and 33.3 %, respectively, in cases with none, one, and two of the risk factors, respectively, in intramucosal undifferentiated EGC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ESD alone may be a sufficient treatment for intramucosal undifferentiated EGC if the tumor is less than 2.0 cm in size and when LVI is absent upon postoperative histological examination. LECS is feasible and safe for patients with undifferentiated EGC.

Defining a subgroup treatable for laparoscopic surgery in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer: the role of lymph node metastasis

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to identify the clinicopathologic factors predictive of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC) and to expand the possibility of using laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of poorly differentiated EGC.

METHODS

Data from 70 cases of poorly differentiated EGC treated with surgery were collected. The association between clinicopathologic factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, depth of invasion, and lymphatic vessel involvement (LVI) were the significant and independent risk factors for LNM (all P<0.05). The LNM rates were 6.9%, 45.5%, and 60.0%, respectively. There was no LNM in 25 patients without the above three risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic surgery is a sufficient treatment for intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC if the tumor is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in size and when LVI is absent upon postoperative histological examination.

Defining a subgroup treatable for laparoscopic surgery in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer: the role of lymph node metastasis

Objective

The present study aims to identify the clinicopathologic factors predictive of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC) and to expand the possibility of using laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of poorly differentiated EGC.

Methods

Data from 70 cases of poorly differentiated EGC treated with surgery were collected. The association between clinicopathologic factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, depth of invasion, and lymphatic vessel involvement (LVI) were the significant and independent risk factors for LNM (all P<0.05). The LNM rates were 6.9%, 45.5%, and 60.0%, respectively. There was no LNM in 25 patients without the above three risk factors.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic surgery is a sufficient treatment for intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC if the tumor is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in size and when LVI is absent upon postoperative histological examination.

Tissue engineering of the stomach

Tissue engineering combines engineering principles with the biological sciences to create functional replacement tissues. The underlying principle of tissue engineering is that isolated cells combined with biomaterials can form new tissues and organs in vitro and in vivo. This review focuses on stomach tissue engineering, which is a promising approach to the treatment of gastric cancer, the fourth most common malignancy in the world and the second-leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Although gastrectomy is a reliable intervention to achieve complete removal of cancer lesions, the limited capacity for food intake after resection results in lower quality of life for patients. To address this issue, we have developed a tissue-engineered stomach to increase the capacity for food intake by creating a new food reservoir. We have transplanted this neo-stomach as a substitute for the original native stomach in a rat model and confirmed functional adaptation. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the feasibility of transplanting a tissue-engineered gastric wall patch in a rat model to alleviate the complications after resection of a large area of the gastric wall. Although progress has been achieved, significant challenges remain to bring this approach to clinical practice. Here, we summarize our work and present the state of the art in stomach tissue engineering.

Risk clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer and their impact on laparoscopic wedge resection

AIM: To investigate the predictive factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC), and enlarge the possibility of using laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR).

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 85 patients with poorly differentiated EGC who underwent surgical resection between January 1992 and December 2010. The association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) with 95%CI were calculated. We further examined the relationship between the positive number of the three significant predictive factors and the LNM rate.

RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, tumor size (P = 0.011), depth of invasion (P = 0.007) and lymphatic vessel involvement (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher rate of LNM. In the multivariate model, tumor size (OR = 7.125, 95%CI: 1.251-38.218, P = 0.041), depth of invasion (OR = 16.624, 95%CI: 1.571-82.134, P = 0.036) and lymphatic vessel involvement (OR = 39.112, 95%CI: 1.745-123.671, P = 0.011) were found to be independently risk clinicopathological factors for LNM. Of the 85 patients diagnosed with poorly differentiated EGC, 12 (14.1%) had LNM. The LNM rates were 5.7%, 42.9% and 57.1%, respectively in cases with one, two and three of the risk factors respectively in poorly differentiated EGC. There was no LNM in 29 patients without the three risk clinicopathological factors.

CONCLUSION: LWR alone may be sufficient treatment for intramucosal poorly differentiated EGC if the tumor is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in size, and when lymphatic vessel involvement is absent at postoperative histological examination.

Preliminary experience of fast-track surgery combined with laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fast-track surgery combined with laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

Eighty-eight eligible patients were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) fast-track surgery (FTS) + laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy (LADG), treated with LADG and FTS treatment; (2) LADG, treated with LADG and traditional treatment; (3) FTS + open distal grastectomy (ODG), treated with ODG and FTS treatment; and (4) ODG, treated with ODG and traditional treatment. The clinical parameters and serum indicators were compared.

RESULTS

Compared with the ODG group, the other three groups had earlier first flatus and shorter postoperative hospital stay (all P <0.01; all P <0.05), especially in the FTS + LADG group. The level of ALB was higher in the FTS + LADG group than in the LADG group at 4 and 7 days after surgery (P <0.05, P <0.01). The level of CRP in the FTS + LADG group was lower than in the FTS+ODG group at 4 and 7 days after surgery (P <0.05, P <0.05). The FTS + ODG group had lowest medical costs.

CONCLUSION

Combination of FTS and LADG in gastric cancer is safe, feasible, and efficient and can improve nutritional status, lessen postoperative stress, and accelerate postoperative rehabilitation. Compared with FTS + ODG and LADG, its advantages were limited in short-term follow-up.

The role of laparoscopic surgery in gastric cancer

The laparoscopic surgery in gastric cancer is applied with increasing frequency nowadays; noticeable reports come mainly from Korea and Japan with satisfactory results. This review presents briefly the issue by evaluating its role. A PubMed search of relevant articles published up to 2010 was performed to identify current information. Most data come from Far East, where gastric cancer occurs more often, and the proportion of early gastric cancer is high. Laparoscopic approach includes both the diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic resection. Laparoscopic gastrectomy has currently limited application for gastric cancer in the West; it is not widely accepted and raises important considerations necessitating the planning of multicentre randomised control trials based mainly on the long-term results.

Comparison of Learning Curves and Clinical Outcomes between Laparoscopy-assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Open Distal Gastrectomy

PURPOSE

Most stomach surgeons have been educated sufficiently in conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG) but insufficiently in laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). We compared learning curves and clinical outcomes between ODG and LADG by a single surgeon who had sufficient education of ODG and insufficient education of LADG.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ODG (90 patients, January through September, 2004) and LADG groups (90 patients, June 2006 to June 2007) were compared. The learning curve was assessed with the mean number of retrieved lymph nodes, operation time, and postoperative morbidity/mortality.

RESULTS

Mean operation time was 168.3 minutes for ODG and 183.6 minutes for LADG. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 37.9. Up to about the 20th to 25th cases, the slope decrease in the learning curve for LADG was more apparent than for ODG, although they both reached plateaus after the 50th cases. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes reached the overall mean after the 30th and 40th cases for ODG and LADG, respectively. For ODG, complications were evenly distributed throughout the subgroups, whereas for LADG, complications occurred in 10 (33.3%) of the first 30 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with conventional ODG, LADG is feasible, in particular for a surgeon who has had much experience with conventional ODG, although LADG required more operative time, slightly more time to get adequately retrieved lymph nodes and more complications. However, there were more minor problems in the first 30 LADG than ODG cases. The unfavorable results for LADG can be overcome easily through an adequate training program for LADG.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and value of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for early stage gastric cancer (stages IA, IB, and II).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 101 cases treated by LADG and compared to 49 contemporaneous cases treated by open distal gastrectomy (DG) between 2001 and 2006. Clinical variables, such as tumor diameter, operation time, blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected, and length of stay were investigated.

RESULTS

Tumor size (mm) was significantly smaller in the LADG group (p < 0.0001). Although operation time (min) in the two groups was similar (278 +/- 57 vs. 268 +/- 55), mean blood loss was significantly higher in the DG group (139 +/- 181 vs. 460 +/- 301, p < 0.0001). Fewer lymph nodes were harvested in the LADG group (27 +/- 14 vs. 34 +/- 19, p = 0.012). Hospital stay was longer in the DG group (13.3 +/- 8.5 vs. 16.7 +/- 10.5, p = 0.034). There was no mortality in either group. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in six (6%) of the LADG and four (8%) of the DG.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors conclude that laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy is a safe and useful operation for early-stage gastric cancers. If patients are selected properly, laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy can be a curative and minimally invasive treatment for gastric cancer.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: technical and oncologic aspects

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer is still controversial. To evaluate the technical and oncologic feasibility and advantage of LADG with D2 lymph node dissection, the authors compared the surgical outcomes of LADG with D2 dissection and those of conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC).

METHODS

Between September 2004 and August 2005, the study enrolled 75 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of EGC. Of these 75 patients, 44 underwent LADG, and remaining 31 underwent ODG. All the patients received D2 lymph node dissection. Their clinicopathologic characteristics, postoperative outcomes, and retrieved lymph nodes were compared at each station.

RESULTS

Although the operative time was significantly longer for the LADG group than for the ODG group, the perioperative recovery was shorter and, consequently, the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for the LADG group (7.7 vs 9.4 days, respectively; p = 0.003). No significant differences were found in the total number of retrieved lymph nodes (37.2 vs 42.4; p > 0.05) or node stations (p > 0.05) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

LADG with D2 lymph node dissection is a safe and feasible procedure, and it is oncologically compatible with open gastrectomy. A large-scaled prospective randomized trial with advanced gastric cancer patients should be conducted to confirm the benefit of LADG.

Meta-analysis of short-term outcomes after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy

AIM: To elucidate the current status of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with regard to its short-term outcomes by comparing it with conventional open distal gastrectomy (CODG).

METHODS: Original articles published from January 1991 to August 2006 were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Clinical appraisal and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.

RESULTS: Outcomes of 1611 procedures from 4 randomized controlled trials and 12 retrospective studies were analyzed. Compared to CODG, LADG was a longer procedure (weighted mean difference [WMD] 54.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 38.8 to 69.8; P < 0.001), but was associated with a lower associated morbidity (odds ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.77; P < 0.001); this was most significant for postoperative ileus (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.84; P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between the two groups in anastomotic, pulmonary, and wound complications and mortality. Duration from surgery to first passage of flatus was faster (WMD -0.68; 95% CI -0.85 to -0.50; P < 0.001) and the frequency of additional analgesic requirement (WMD -1.36; 95% CI -2.44 to -0.28; P = 0.01), and duration of hospital stay (WMD -5.51; 95% CI -7.61 to -3.42; P < 0.001) were significantly lower after LADG. However, a significantly higher number of lymph nodes were dissected by CODG (WMD -4.35; 95% CI -5.73 to -2.98; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: LADG for early gastric cancer is associated with a lower morbidity, less pain, faster bowel function recovery, and shorter hospital stay.

Laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer: 5 years' experience

The purpose of this study was to clarify the safety and value of laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer. This retrospective study involved 101 patients with gastric cancer treated with laparoscopic surgery at the Nippon Medical School Hospital from February 2001 through July 2005. The following variables were evaluated: age, sex, comorbid conditions, tumor size, location, gross type, histological type, depth of wall invasion, and presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. The surgical variables investigated included operating time, blood loss, postoperative complications, and length of postoperative stay. Mean tumor diameter was 24.1 +/- 18.4 mm, and most tumors were located in the lower third of the stomach. Endoscopic examination revealed that 98 of the tumors were early gastric cancers. The mean operation time was 255 +/- 74 min, and mean blood loss was 128 +/- 162 g. Local gastrectomy without lymphadenectomy was performed in 13 cases, and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy with perigastric lymphadenectomy was performed in 16 cases. Distal gastrectomy with systemic lymphadenectomy was performed in 56 cases. Proximal or total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for tumors located in the upper half of the stomach was performed in 16 cases. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 13.3 +/- 7.6 days. No patients died during the admission. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in 10 patients (10%) and consisted of anastomotic bleeding in 3 patients, pneumohypoderma in 1 patient, and remote infection in 6 patients. The only medical complication was a stroke in 1 patient. We conclude that laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy is a safe and useful operation for most early gastric cancers. If patients are selected properly, laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy can be a curative and minimally invasive treatment for gastric cancer.